Kadena holds Memorial Day service, honors fallen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Leaders, veterans and active-duty personnel from all branches of service on Okinawa gathered at Chapel 1 here to attend a Memorial Day ceremony May 25.

Memorial Day is an annual holiday observed on the last Monday in May, and is a special day set aside to remember the brave men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

"I think it's especially important for us as active duty service members to commemorate the holidays like Memorial Day and Veteran's Day," said Capt. Greyson Leftwich, 18th Dental Squadron oral surgery element chief and Memorial Day ceremony planner. "We should take time to remember those who paved the way for us and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."

Leftwich went on to say that having veterans in attendance put the ceremony into perspective and served as a strong reminder of the day's intent.

"One of the veterans I spoke with said he's come to every Memorial Day service since 1961," Leftwich said. "The enthusiasm was pretty evident, and I'm really glad they were here."

The ceremony included an invocation, a poetry reading, a wreath laying ceremony and a rendition of "Taps" by the Kadena Honor Guard.

In addition to the veterans and other distinguished guests from around Okinawa, Brig. Gen. Barry Cornish, 18th Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Charles Hoffman, 18th Wing command chief, attended the ceremony.

Both leaders spoke about the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives in defense of their country and asked those in attendance to keep their families and friends in their prayers.

"Their legacy exemplifies the American spirit and all that we hold dear," said Hoffman. "For their valor and selfless devotion to protect the country they loved, our nation owes them a debt we could never fully repay."